Albany exploring new farmers market

The city of Albany is in the very preliminary stages of planning for a possible new, large farmers market. A site has not been identified, nor is the market guaranteed to be launched, said Doug Melnick, the city’s planning director. Melnick and staff members met earlier this week with a few stakeholders — potential producers and vendors, other interested parties — to kick around ideas.

There are currently four small weekday farmers markets within city limits: downtown, Empire State Plaza, Harriman state office campus and Delaware Avenue. The meeting was to begin to explore whether a larger regional weekend market would attract sufficient shoppers and vendors and wouldn’t be detrimental to established weekend markets, including in Troy and Delmar.

“The city is supportive of a larger market concept, but we want to be very sensitive to existing markets,” Melnick tells me. His department is developing a survey to gauge interest from residents and potential shoppers and vendors.

If a weekend market in Albany had as many vendors as the Troy and Saratoga farmers markets, would you shop there? Would it be instead of going to another market? What would be the best location for such a market?

While visiting the kitchen at Gramercy Tavern, I inquired about the two wheelbarrows hanging by a rear entrance to the kitchen. The chef told me that two Sous Chefs take them to the Greenmarket in Union Square twice a week to load up on Farmer’s Market produce. I have always wanted to be able to share that experience with our guests.

I think shutting down Pearl Street from Clinton to State to only pedestrian traffic could be feasible, much like how Troy shuts down River Street. I know that would be a catalyst to many restaurants opening up for lunch/brunch on Saturdays in Downtown Albany and provide a much needed pedestrian traffic. Washington Park would also be a great location as would the Corning Preserve/Riverfront.

I agree on the pearl street location. I love the vitality that the Troy market brings to river street – it is the best location the Troy market has had. And pearl can use the positive addition. For that reason I would prefer it to Wash park, though that would also work for a winter market.

Are they aware that people are trying to organize a New Scotland School Market? It might be good to combine the efforts.

Since I frequently ride buses I would prefer that the market not disrupt bus routes, so Washington Park seems like a good location, but Academy Park or several other locations could work well. Albany’s open air market was down the middle of lower State Street for many decades. If one lane could be left open it could still be quite a nice market space.

Shutting down Pearl Street from State to Clinton should be done on Saturday night – that would do very, very good things for that neighborhood scene.

Close off Central Avenue from the intersection of Maine Avenue, to the west, and, Henry Johnson Boulevard to the east, to automobile traffic from 6 AM to 6 PM on Saturdays and turn it in to one big open air market for street vendors and store operators along that stretch…

This would be wonderful for Albany’s residents and businesses! If a decent market was available in Albany I would probably cut back on visits to Troy but I do that in the summer anyway when I’m getting a CSA share. Harriman would be a great place since it’s largely quiet and empty on the weekends and there’s ample parking but it’s mostly accessible for those with access to a car. However, it would REALLY benefit the downtown residents, especially those who don’t drive, if it were in in Washington Park. That’s a nice central location for a variety of neighborhoods and it’s close to the major bus lines. In addition, it’s quickly accessible from Exit 6 for out-of-town visitors. That would be an awesome way to get quality food into the neighborhoods that have the least access to decent grocery stores too.

“That would be an awesome way to get quality food into the neighborhoods that have the least access to decent grocery stores too.”

Agreed! There also needs to be an educational aspect that includes food demonstrations/recipe cards & outreach involving local orgs that will bring in residents from nearby food deserts. (Potentially CDCG, Grand St. Arts, Coop, Food Pantry, Chef’s Consortium, many others). The market should be located close enough for residents of Arbor Hill & the Southend to be able to walk to it. SNAP should definitely be accepted from the very start.

This sounds great–as I live in Albany and would love to have a farmer’s market on the weekend here! I love the Troy market, but it would be nice to be able to stick around Albany and possibly ride by bike to it. Maybe bring it to downtown–it needs some life on the weekend.

I’m from Allentown, Pa and they have the most wonderful farmers market – http://www.fairgroundfarmersmkt.com
Its indoors & YEAR ROUND, and not only are there fruit & vegetable stands, there are meat vendors, specialty food stands, wine, nuts & chips, candy and more! Pretty much anything you could ever want in a farmers market! I wish they had something like this around here, its one of the things I miss most from home 🙂

Although I’m from New York City and think the world of the Union Square market, I moved to Albany from Baltimore and the Farmers Market Bazaar down there may be one of the best on the east coast. If you’ve never been, the next time you’re in the area, add it to your list of things to see and experience.

That’s what’s missing from the political leadership…people who travel outside of the Capital district! (ha ha) Many, many cities have similar markets. Baltimore, Charleston as does Burlington, St. Paul, Chicago, SF, and the list goes on. Heck, where the Times Union Center sits used to be a marketplace too.

BTW, Rochester’s is funded in part by the City Govt and is open three days/eve a week! Let’s see if the Mayor or the County Exec will pony up some real money to launch this idea.

It would be nice to have a market in Albany that is for residents and not just for people that work in Albany and then leave. Washington Park would be great but everyone will complain about parking. I love the idea of closing Pearl St to cars and holding it there. That would be a great way to get people downtown on the weekends and would be a great draw for people considering moving to the new condos downtown. And if it means enough business for some of the weekday lunch spots to open on the weekends, all the better.

It would absolutely compete with the other markets- not just for shoppers, but also for vendors. That’s a major drawback and will require some creativity to make it unique and draw different vendors.

Is this not what I was saying a few days ago? The largest city in the area does not have a weekend farmers market. It would be sweet if they built a large covered market like Marche Jean Talon in Montreal. I’d put it on the site of the now defunct convention center. The land is acquired and money is set aside.

Ooooh, now that is a great idea and differentiates the market from other nearby ones. PLus the covered areas could be used for other craft fairs etc on other days. Plenty of parking. I guess the downside is that it might have to move someday if the land is developed.

I also agree with closing down the Pearl Street area. It will bring some great foot traffic to local businesses and is less busy during the weekend than during the week.

It would compete with other markets but perhaps placing it on a Sunday instead of a Saturday would help things. I know there is still a farmer’s market in Schenectady but I think it would be less competition than on a Saturday.

As far as the location goes, I feel that it all depends on what they are considering a “large” Farmers Market. I do not consider the Troy Farmers Market big. Two or three small city blocks is just an average size. Also, is there enough farms and sustainable vendors in the area to allow a “big” market? Troy has 5 or six CSA’s selling, I’m sure that the smaller Albany Farmers Markets have others..maybe they could get farms from Vermont and Other parts of NY.
As long as they could get enough Farms and not have vendors selling other items ie. turning it into a Garage Sale (like Troy did last year) I would say shut down the Pearl st. area.

I think the idea here is to be respectful of the area’s already well-established/neighborhood markets, and the people (boards, vendors, customers) behind them – all live in/near Smallbany and work with each other on many levels (including at many of the same markets). It can take years to make a market really popular and as one of the people involved in the meeting referenced above, and a 10 year local market vendor, a cooperative leaning as opposed to a competitive one seems the right path to take.

Vendors are not allowed to go to the best market. Market managers are often capricious, political and downright rude to vendors. I was denied access to the Schenectady Greenmarket twice because my product was not local, even though it is produced in Schenectady. I applied to the Troy market three times, sent in my $25 fee three times, and they didn’t even bother to respond. It is not that easy to be a vendor. Too many markets on the same day means less income for vendors.

If it’s a small farmers market, the big grass, empty lot the city owns across from the Barrel Saloon would make. A lot of sense. Plenty of parking on the weekend days, and enough entertainment choices to appease a shopping crowd.

Washington Park is a beautiful area but as others said above the parking is limited. Also, there are many events held at the park on the weekends so there would be a conflict. I like the idea of the corning preserve. Plenty of parking and maybe families would sit and have a picnic if the city would add more picnic tables.

There was one in the WAMC parking lot for two years. Not very successful, despite being in a food desert. Problems getting farmers to come to the unknown (Barbers did, and we bought our weekly veggies from them).

Washington Park neighborhood doesn’t invite in more new groups, its already overrun.

Up in the New Scotland neighborhood there is a group looking to organize a farmers market. They’re still looking at locations within the community.

Morph Pearl St idea with the Corning Preserve idea: Close Broadway between State and Clinton. Still walking distance to the river for picnics, and bike riders from Watervliet and beyond plus plenty of parking/787 access for cars in nearby garages. Still easy to walk to restaurants on Pearl, Sheridan, etc… I would be there.

Plans were presented to the city 5 years ago for a state of the art quincy market type square down by the horrible looking central wharehouse.It would have been a major boom to that area.Idea wasn’t taken seriously,because like everything else smallbany does,they can’t think outside the box for anything big league….

Ugh – Quincy Market is great. Boston is great. Boston is a destination where people go for the N.E. Aquarium and interesting history and good restaurants. Albany is not a destination where people go on purpose. A weekend farmer’s market is a good idea, but even that is going to be limited in success…IMO.

Great idea. Close off State and Pearl down to Clinton and Pearl. Bring in as many local farmers you can. Bring in craft also. One big FLEA MARKET with food. but be selective. Have something going on in the Palace which is not utilize as it should. Don’t forget the Capital Rep. Lets start selling our city. Everyone else is selling there city. Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga they don’t care about Albany. This way people will come. Have live entertainment on Pearl and on the Waterfront. Make the people walk and see what down town has to offer. This way when condo become available people will know what a beautiful city Albany is. Parking should be any place that is available and FREE. Even the parking garage’s private and public

Yes, let’s shut down the streets. Parking free for everyone. Live music, maybe some fireworks. How about some stilt-walkers and fire-eaters? Thousands will come from far and wide every week to get their tomatoes and jars of honey. Get a grip people!

I think you need an indoor/outdoor location, whats available in the “warehouse district” Something that could have fresh produce, a butcher, baked goods,local artisans etc. I could become a destination for many people from the region.

I implied it was quincy market “type” nothing of that scale.But why not?The market wouldn,t have to be open 7 days,but incorporate restaurants,river activities,( other than alive at 5!) bands…That kind of stuff.The mayor has been complaining about that eyesore of an area,but failed miserably in trying to do something about it…People pass thru this area in droves,other than gov.bldgs. we don”t have much for them to stop for.

People come to shop the market, eat dinner from the stalls, and patronize the adjoining businesses. Restaurants with outside seating are full of those people watching. There’s music. It’s like a street party, but without all the drunkards.

I completely agree with Daniel. A weekday evening market in the summer would be perfectly suitable for our city and cooperative with the neighboring towns’ markets. A market downtown would work best with all the commuters leaving the city after work.

Swinburne Park (at bleeker stadium) or Washington Park (at lake house) would work nicely. I would avoid competing with Troy’s market…..because we should be developing regionally, rather than individually. We’d be better off having a great market in Troy on Saturday, in Schenectady on Sunday and a third on Wednesdays from 3 to 9 pm at Bleeker stadium or the lake house, etc.

(While I am not a big fan of the current mayor, he hit on the right idea that the first floor and front of SUNY Central could be a farmer’s market and fanieul hall type retail market place which would enhance downtown—in a sort of build-it-and-they-will-come way)

I’d avoid corning preserve since you’d be apt to drive in and drive away…which minimizes the net effect of a market.

An Albany farmer’s market would be great. Ithaca’s is my favorite. But, it’s dreaming to talk about bringing fresh food to the underserved. Won’t happen. Farmer’s market products, while fairly priced for what they are, are just to expensive for lower income and large family consumers. Look around at tomorrow’s farmers markets and you’ll see what I mean.

An indoor/outdoor market would be great. Somewhat likes Pikes Public Market in Seattle but obviously on a smaller scale. The first floor of the Arcade building (which has been vacant forever, with the exception of Pioneer bank and an art gallery) would be great, which could open up to Maiden lane and Maiden lane park (were the current Thursday market is located). This would tie the market in with the sandwich shops on Maiden lane up to the bars on Pearl and also the Corning Preserve pedestrian bridge across Broadway.

We have long been fans of Cleveland’s West Side Market and have thought that Albany could benefit from a year-round, indoor market. http://www.westsidemarket.org/about.html
The large interior space features butchers, cheese purveyors, bakers, ethnic foods, spices, and specialty foods like pierogies, pasta, olives, and even flavored popcorn. The building is ringed by covered stalls with every kind of fruit, veggies, and flowers. The restaurants and businesses in the area are full of market shoppers. Albany should speak to the folks in Cleveland to see what makes their 100 year old market so successful.

This would be amazing! For location, I’m another vote for Washington Park / Boat House, or someplace near the Center Square area. It doesn’t make sense to me to put a market downtown when there’s not a big built in base of customers within easy walking distance. I also think having a somewhat central location within the city works better (when I lived over off of New Scotland, Washington Park seemed very close, whereas downtown seemed like a real voyage.) For parking, maybe there could be coordination with the downtown SUNY campus, which has a parking lot that is empty on weekends and adjacent to the park.

Actually Washington Ave Armory may be the best idea yet….near the “heart” of the city (Lark St),AND smack in the middle of an urban food desert,AND on a bus-line,AND plenty of floor space for future expansion …if it is successful, the Armory owners wouldn’t have to be making ends meet with foam parties or how many chairs they need to set up! 🙂

I’m another vote for N. Pearl Street as a market location. I’d also love to see a downtown flea market in the big DMV parking lot on South Pearl. I think the two would complement each other. I don’t see why the Farmer’s Market couldn’t be in the afternoon and evening, which would avoid conflict with Troy, Saratoga, and Schenectady, and allow farmers to participate in more than one, to the benefit of all.

I’m biased because I work for the Farmers Market in Menands, but honestly, there are just too many farmers markets.

With so many choices, there aren’t really any incentives to travel any farther than need be to go to a farmers market.

Therefore, I’m sure this new market will work for those in the immediate surrounding area if they put it in a good spot with a lot of foot traffic, but I’m not optimistic they’ll be able to attract people from all over the capital region.

This new market could be bigger and better by folding in some of the smaller markets into it as its starting point. The new market could also provide an opportunity to increase the quality & Depth of the existing farmers’ markets.

I can not imagine any kind of weekend farmers market anywhere in Albany. It has few residents and even fewer services for those who do live there. There are markets already during the week at lunch time. The area has very established regional weekend markets already and in my opinion, it would never get off the ground.

Seems to me the only people in favor are those who live in or close to Albany which is not enough for a city that is usually a ghost town after 5pm during the week and on weekends. I understand why they do since they are no considerable grocery store options anywhere in the City of Albany.